The Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) approved a ₡15 hike in regular per-kilometer taxi fares and a ₡2 to ₡3 increase in per-liter fuel prices.
Higher fuel prices approved last Friday haven't even gone into effect yet, but that hasn't stopped the National Oil Refinery (RECOPE) from seeking a new hike of ₡9 in the per-liter prices of gasoline and diesel.
Early on Monday Gas Zeta announced it will dismiss 275 of its employees who fail to show to work. At around 5:30 p.m. company's representatives said they set a Thursday deadline for workers to resume their jobs.
The Costa Rican Oil Refinery allowed entrance of Gas Zeta's tankers into their plants on Thursday and restarted selling propane to the company, who's ownership is under dispute.
The ensuing legal drama for ownership of Gas Zeta has left its propane customers in Costa Rica — nearly 70 percent of the country — scrambling to find cooking fuel for homes, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools and even prisons.
The Public Services Regulatory Authority found that the state-owned oil refinery improperly used public funds to pay for expenses like airline tickets and professional services at the refinery expansion project in Limón.
